Battle for last votes to seal Rousseff impeachment fate

BRASÍLIA: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s fate rested Tuesday on the loyalties of the last 100 or so congressional deputies yet to declare how they will vote in a looming impeachment showdown. In a ruthless and complex contest, supporters and opponents of Brazil’s first female president raced to amass the magic number that will make history when the lower house of Congress votes in a week’s time. A congressional committee voted late Monday in a non-binding measure to approve impeachment. It gave a taste of the bruising struggle, with deputies yelling and coming close to blows in a day-long debate. The full house is expected to start voting Sunday or the following Monday. This time, a two thirds majority, or 342 deputies, will be needed to send Rousseff’s case to the Senate for impeachment trial.